Young playwrights to present works at City Theatre

City Theatre has announced the eight Young Playwrights Contest winners who will develop their six scripts in collaboration with professional theatre artists—a director, dramaturgs, and actors—for productions in City Theatre’s Hamburg Studio during the 14th annual Young Playwrights Festival, October 1-11.

The middle school selections are: The Amazon: Race to the Cure by Honesty LeGrande and Hope LeGrande, Pittsburgh Arsenal 6-8; Deck the Halls by Lily Buchanan, Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12; and, What Are the Odds? by Ariana Distler and Alayna Perrine, Sharpsville Middle School.

The winning one-act plays were selected from 200 Young Playwrights Contest submissions. Students from middle and high schools in Western Pennsylvania are eligible to participate in the annual contest, which will expand outreach to West Virginia next year. Each script is read by at least two members of the Literary Committee, comprised of 40 theatre professionals from across the United States. All writers who submit scripts receive constructive criticism and encouraging suggestions for continued revisions.

“Young Playwrights encourages student writers to make their voices heard and to take ownership of their work in a professional, artistic environment,” says Kristen Link, City Theatre’s director of education and accessibility. “Through our playwriting program, students not only learn a new craft, but also discover different ways to think critically, connect with their peers, and form valuable networks within the local theatre industry.”

This October, City Theatre’s Young Playwrights Festival will showcase diverse theatrical storytelling, including crisis in a post-apocalyptic radio station, adventures in the Amazon, a spirited holiday period piece, and more. Subjects tackled range from teen depression to consumerism, with poignant moments of nostalgia and flashback woven throughout.

The full festival schedule, including performances and workshops, will be announced in late August. Tickets will go on sale September 3, online at CityTheatreCompany.org or by phone at 412-431-CITY (2489).

City Theatre’s 39th season begins this fall. The theatre specializes in new plays, commissioning and producing work by playwrights including Adam Rapp, Jeffrey Hatcher, Theresa Rebeck, and Christopher Durang.